More Doubles

Just finished these little canvases...they are 4 x 4 and 1 inch deep.  They
are done with some sculpting medium (like gesso), and then
painted with acrylic, with a few colored pencil accents.
I plan to take them, and a few more, down to Breaux Bridge to
the Louisiana Marketplace Shop.
These are the kind of subjects that sell well down there in South
Louisiana.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

In Flight

This is the finished watercolor of the pelican.  

Here it is with the masking fluid on it.  It coats the painted part and allows
for the wet, loose background to be painted freely.  Once it was dry, I wet the
background with clear water.  

Here it is with the wet paint washed across it.  I sprinkled some salt
on a couple of areas.  The salt soaks up the pigment, and leaves some interesting
little sparkles in the wash.  Once dry, the masking fluid rolls off, a lot like
rubber cement.  I will mat it, and it will be at the gallery.
It is for sale, $150.  It is 21 x 13.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Painted Pelican

Finally getting to paint some Galapagos subjects..yea!  I had
some great pics of a brown pelican, so I decided to start there.
These birds live along the coast in Louisiana; in fact, they are our
state bird.  They were endangered at one time, but they have made a
strong comeback.  They were recently affected by the BP oil spill, and several
oil laden pelicans made the news.  We may not ever know the full effects of
the oil spill.  But I am glad to see these guys healthy and flying around when
I visit down south...either here or in the Galapagos islands!

I will add a background to this watercolor.  I am going to cover up this bird with
the masking fluid that will protect it.  Then I will paint the whole background
in a looser style.  Once dry, I will remove the masking fluid, and add any needed
details.  Here I go!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A Bird in the Hand

Finished this drawing of the Spoonbill.  I used a different
brand of pencil on this one.  I have always and only
used Prismacolors (for over 20 years).  But
lately, their quality has changed.  The leads break
very easily, and the whole pencil is used up just
trying to sharpen it.

I have enjoyed a page on Facebook called
CPAL (colored pencil artists) and many of them are
using a brand of pencil called Polychromos.  So, I
decided to try some of them.

They are similar to the Prismas, but the lead is much stronger, or
at least not as crumbly.  I enjoyed using them.  The colors are
comparable, and they look similar on the paper.

I have already started this photo....another colored pencil drawing on Arches paper.
I guess I am just in a "bird" mood.  I like the mood of this photo....the
peace and solitude.

And I love this gregarious bunch.  They would be fun to draw too.

I notice I am doing a lot of Louisiana birds.  I may try to pitch
a show to a gallery in the area...see if I can get some
of this stuff in front of a different audience.
Thanks for looking!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Only a Pelican

Did this little watercolor of this brown

pelican. I am going to add some kind

of background...still thinking.

They are the state bird of

Louisiana. This one was in a zoo. I

have photographed a few in the wild,

but they are hard to get close to. I have

seen them flying in groups at the seashore

and they are impressive. And I have also

seen them dive straight down into the

water to catch a fish...amazing. They tuck

their wings, point that huge bill straight

down, and plummet into the water, causing

a huge splash. And most of the time, they

come up with a wiggling fish! Just another

one of God's fabulous creations...

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Pelican Original watercolor 8 x 10

$35.00